© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Budd Lake.
Budd Lake is an unincorporated community in Morris County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Budd Lake
Budd Lake is a community of 10,106 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $113,036, median rent runs about $1,402 per month, and median home values are around $456,100. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Budd Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Foreign-Born
22.1%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Budd Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Budd Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.3%), and 14.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.2%
of residents
65 and Older
11.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.3%
of households
Married Couples
59.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.87
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Budd Lake
In Budd Lake, rent runs 18% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
74.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $538,856 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Budd Lake
Unemployment in Morris County, which includes Budd Lake, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Budd Lake: Morris County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Morris County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Budd Lake is about 2% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Budd Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.4 min avg
How Budd Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Budd Lake, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 32 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Mount Olive Township Police Department, which covers Budd Lake, runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
37.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
391.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Mount Olive Township Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Morris County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Morris County, which includes Budd Lake, the most common type is winter weather, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2019 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Morris County, county-wide
Budd Lake is about 2% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Morris County, which includes Budd Lake, is typically good — 275 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
275
per year
Moderate Days
48
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Morris County, county-wide
Budd Lake is about 2% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Budd Lake has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.5"
Annual Snowfall
29.6"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 19°F | 3.27" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.83" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 4.07" |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 3.78" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.54" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 5.06" |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.85" |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 4.32" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 4.64" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.43" |
| Dec | 41°F | 25°F | 4.18" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Budd Lake
Uninsured
4.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Budd Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ahs Hospital Corp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Hackettstown
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 11.9 mi away · Morris Plains
Newton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.9 mi away · Newton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Budd Lake
Budd Lake's student/teacher ratio is 10.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 45.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Budd Lake (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 910 students · in-state tuition $39,632 · 67% graduate · median earnings $60,078 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Morristown National Historical Park, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Budd Lake
Budd Lake has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
21 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
35 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
38 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
39 mi awayCities Near Budd Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Budd Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Budd Lake FAQ
Is Budd Lake, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Budd Lake's median rent is $1,402/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $114,154/year. Median home value is $456,100.
Is Budd Lake, New Jersey safe?⌄
Budd Lake is policed by the Mount Olive Township Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 37 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 392 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Budd Lake, New Jersey?⌄
Morris County, which includes Budd Lake, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Budd Lake, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Budd Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,402/month and median household income is $114,154/year. The median home value is $456,100. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Budd Lake, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Budd Lake is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from